Stevia Cultivar &#39;817096&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  stevia  cultivar, designated ‘817096’, is disclosed. The invention relates to the plant parts of  stevia  cultivar ‘817096’, to the plants of  stevia  ‘817096’ and to methods for producing a  stevia  plant produced by crossing the cultivar ‘817096’ with itself or another  stevia  variety, including methods using marker assisted breeding. The invention further relates to hybrid  stevia  seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar ‘817096’ with another  stevia  cultivar.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility patent application claims the benefit of priority from:U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/044,626, filed on Sep. 2,2014; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/071,567, filed on Sep. 26,2014; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/059,562, filed on Oct.3, 2014; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/061,363, filed onOct. 8, 2014; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/064,601, filedon Oct. 16, 2014; Chinese Patent Application No. 201510036580.4, filedon Jan. 23, 2015; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/116,893, filed on Feb. 16, 2015; the contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) seed, astevia plant, a stevia cultivar, and a stevia hybrid. This disclosurefurther relates to a method for producing stevia seed and plants. Allpublications cited in this application are herein incorporated byreference.

Stevia is an important and valuable field crop for the production ofsweeteners, sugar substitutes, and other consumable ingredients. Thus, acontinuing goal of stevia plant breeders is to develop stable, highyielding stevia cultivars of stevia species that are agronomicallysound. The reasons for this goal are to maximize the amount and qualityof the sweeteners, sugar substitutes, and other consumable ingredients.To accomplish this goal, the stevia breeder must select and developplants that have the traits that result in superior cultivars.

The development of new stevia cultivars requires the evaluation andselection of parents and the crossing of these parents. The lack ofpredictable success of a given cross requires that a breeder, in anygiven year, make several crosses with the same or different breedingobjectives.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described inconjunction with systems, tools, and methods, which are meant to beexemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In variousembodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have beenreduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to otherimprovements.

One or more embodiments relate to a stevia seed, a stevia plant, astevia cultivar, and a method for producing a stevia plant.

One or more embodiments further relates to a method of producing steviaseeds and plants by crossing a plant of the instant invention withanother stevia plant.

One embodiment relates to live plant tissue such as shoots, microshootsand seed of the stevia variety ‘817096’. Another aspect also relates toplants produced by growing the seed of the stevia variety ‘817096’, aswell as the derivatives of such plants. As used herein, the term “plant”includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cells of a tissue culturefrom which stevia plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps,shoots, microshoots and plant cells that are intact in plants or partsof plants, such as pollen, flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, and the like.

Another embodiment relates to a tissue culture of regenerable cells ofthe stevia variety ‘817096’, as well as plants regenerated therefrom,wherein the regenerated stevia plant expresses all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of a plant grown from the stevia seed ortissue culture designated ‘817096’.

Yet another embodiment is a stevia plant of the stevia variety ‘817096’comprising at least a first transgene, wherein the stevia plant isotherwise capable of expressing all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the stevia variety ‘817096’. In particular,embodiments of the invention, a plant is provided that comprises asingle locus conversion. A single locus conversion may comprise atransgenic gene, which has been introduced by genetic transformationinto the stevia variety ‘817096’ or a progenitor thereof. A transgenicor non-transgenic single locus conversion can also be introduced bybackcrossing, as is well known in the art. In certain embodiments, thesingle locus conversion may comprise a dominant or recessive allele. Thelocus conversion may confer potentially any desired trait upon the plantas described herein.

Still yet, another embodiment relates to a first generation (F₁) hybridstevia seed produced by crossing a plant of the stevia variety ‘817096’to a second stevia plant. Also included in the invention are the F₁hybrid stevia plants grown from the hybrid seed produced by crossing thestevia variety ‘817096’ to a second stevia plant. Still further includedin the invention are the seeds of an F₁ hybrid plant produced with thestevia variety ‘817096’ as one parent, the second generation (F₂) hybridstevia plant grown from the seed of the F₁ hybrid plant, and the seedsof the F₂ hybrid plant.

Still yet, another embodiment is a method of producing stevia seedscomprising crossing a plant of the stevia variety ‘817096’ to any secondstevia plant, including itself or another plant of the variety ‘817096’.In particular, embodiments of the invention, the method of crossingcomprises the steps of: (a) planting seeds of the stevia variety‘817096’; (b) cultivating stevia plants resulting from said seeds untilsaid plants bear flowers; (c) allowing fertilization of the flowers ofsaid plants; and (d) harvesting seeds produced from said plants.

Still yet another embodiment is a method of producing hybrid steviaseeds comprising crossing the stevia variety ‘817096’ to a second,distinct stevia plant which is non-isogenic to the stevia variety‘817096’. In particular, where the crossing comprises the steps of: (a)planting seeds of stevia variety ‘817096’ and a second, distinct steviaplant; (b) cultivating the stevia plants grown from the seeds until theplants bear flowers; (c) cross pollinating a flower on one of the twoplants with the pollen of the other plant; and (d) harvesting the seedsresulting from the cross pollinating.

Still yet another embodiment is a method for developing a stevia plantin a stevia breeding program comprising: (a) obtaining a stevia plant,or its parts, of the variety ‘817096’; and (b) employing said plant orparts as a source of breeding material using plant breeding techniques.In the method, the plant breeding techniques may be selected from thegroup consisting of recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection,backcrossing, pedigree breeding, genetic marker-assisted selection, andgenetic transformation. In certain embodiments, the stevia plant ofvariety ‘817096’ is used as the male or female parent.

Still yet another embodiment is a method of producing a stevia plantderived from the stevia variety ‘817096’, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from stevia variety‘817096’ by crossing a plant of the stevia variety ‘817096’ with asecond stevia plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or asecond plant to produce a progeny plant of a subsequent generation whichis derived from a plant of the stevia variety ‘817096’. In oneembodiment, the method further comprises: (c) crossing the progeny plantof a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and (d)repeating steps (b) and (c) for at least 2-10 additional generations toproduce an inbred stevia plant derived from the stevia variety ‘817096’.Also provided is a plant produced by this and the other methods of theinvention. Plant variety ‘817096’-derived plants produced by this andthe other methods of the invention described herein may, in certainembodiments, be further defined as comprising the traits of plantvariety ‘817096’ given in Table 1.

In another embodiment, a method of vegetatively propagating the steviaplant of the present application, comprising the steps of: (a)collecting tissue or cells capable of being propagated from a plant of‘817096’; (b) cultivating said tissue or cells of (a) to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets; or (d) cultivating said tissue or cells to obtainproliferated shoots, or to obtain plantlets. Further, plants produced bygrowing said plantlets or proliferated shoots are provided for.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term“comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” butit is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,”and “one or more than one.”

Other objects, features, and advantages may become apparent from thefollowing detailed description. It should be understood, however, thatthe detailed description and the specific examples, while indicatingspecific embodiments, are given by way of illustration only, sincevarious changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of theembodiments of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in theart from this detailed description.

Another embodiment provides regenerable cells for use in tissue cultureof stevia plant ‘817096’. The tissue culture may be capable ofregenerating plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the foregoing stevia plant, and of regeneratingplants having substantially the same genotype as the foregoing steviaplant. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be embryos,protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers,pistils, roots, root tips, flowers, seeds, or stems. Still further,another embodiment provides stevia plants regenerated from the tissuecultures of the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method for developinga stevia plant in a stevia plant breeding program, comprising applyingplant breeding techniques comprising recurrent selection, backcrossing,pedigree breeding, marker enhanced selection, haploid/double haploidproduction, or transformation to the stevia plant of claim 1, or itsparts, wherein application of said techniques results in development ofa stevia plant.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a second stevia seed,plant, plant part, or cell produced by crossing a plant or plant part ofstevia cultivar ‘817096’, or a locus conversion thereof, with anotherplant, wherein representative live plant tissue of said stevia cultivar‘817096’ has been deposited under CGMCC No. 9703 and wherein said steviacultivar ‘817096’seed, plant, plant part, or cell has the samepolymorphisms for the single nucleotide polymorphisms of SEQ ID NO:1,SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ IDNO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8 as the plant or plant part of stevia cultivar‘817096’.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments may become apparent by study of thefollowing descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTINGS

SEQ ID NO: 1 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)5090958” (SNP 2) with a CC genotype (homozygous recessive)for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 2 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)3488333” (SNP 10) with an AA genotype (homozygous recessive)for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 3 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)4414800” (SNP 12) with a TT genotype (homozygous recessive)for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 4 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)6262256” (SNP17) with a CC genotype (homozygous recessive)for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 5 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)6645712” (SNP 19) SNP with a TT genotype (homozygousrecessive) for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 6 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)6647386” (SNP 20) SNP with an AA genotype (homozygousrecessive) for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 7 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)4704641” (SNP 22) SNP with a GG genotype (homozygousrecessive) for all RebD, RebM lines.

SEQ ID NO: 8 discloses a single nucleotide polymorphism“stv_snp_(—)5387123” (SNP 24) SNP with an AA genotype (homozygousrecessive) for all RebD, RebM lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive,example embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodimentsand figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative ratherthan limiting.

FIG. 1 shows PCR amplification of SNP2 as well as the location of thesubstitution of a G nucleotide to a C nucleotide.

FIG. 2 shows PCR amplification of SNP10 as well as the location of thesubstitution of a G nucleotide to an A nucleotide.

FIG. 3 shows PCR amplification of SNP12 as well as the location of thesubstitution of a C nucleotide to a T nucleotide.

FIG. 4 shows PCR amplification of SNP17 as well as the location of thesubstitution of an A nucleotide to a C nucleotide.

FIG. 5 shows PCR amplification of SNP19 as well as the location of thesubstitution of an A nucleotide to a T nucleotide.

FIG. 6 shows PCR amplification of SNP20 as well as the location of thesubstitution of a G nucleotide to an A nucleotide.

FIG. 7 shows PCR amplification of SNP22 as well as the location of thesubstitution of a T nucleotide to a G nucleotide.

FIG. 8 shows PCR amplification of SNP24 as well as the location of thesubstitution of a G nucleotide to an A nucleotide.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables, which follow, a number of terms are used.In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Genotype: Refers to the genetic composition of a cell or organism.

Plant: As used herein, the term “plant” includes reference to animmature or mature whole plant, including a plant that has beenprocessed for steviol glycosides. Seed or plant part that will producethe plant is also considered to be the plant.

Plant Part: As used herein, the term “plant part” includes leaves,stems, roots, root tips, seed, embryo, pollen, ovules, flowers, roottips, shoots, microshoots, anthers, tissue, cells and the like.

Rebaudioside A: As used herein is a steviol glycoside that contains onlyglucose as its monosaccharide moieties. It contains four glucosemolecules in total with the central glucose of the triplet connected tothe main steviol structure at its hydroxyl group, and the remainingglucose at its carboxyl group forming an ester bond.

Rebaudioside D: As used herein is an ent-kaurane diterpene glycosideisolated from Stevia rebaudiana.

Rebaudioside M: As used herein is an ent-kaurane diterpene glycosideisolated from Stevia rebaudiana.

SNP: As used herein, the term “SNP” shall refer to a single nucleotidepolymorphism.

Stevioside content: As used herein, stevioside is the percent glycosidederived from the stevia plant.

Traditional breeding techniques: Encompasses herein crossing, selfing,selection, double haploid production, embryo rescue, protoplast fusion,marker assisted selection, mutation breeding etc. as known to thebreeder (i.e. methods other than geneticmodification/transformation/transgenic methods), by which, for example,a genetically heritable trait can be transferred from one carrot line orvariety to another.

Vegetative propagation: “Vegetative reproduction” or “clonalpropagation” are used interchangeably herein and mean the method oftaking part of a plant and allowing that plant part to form at leastroots where plant part is, e.g., defined as or derived from (e.g. bycutting of) leaf, pollen, embryo, cotyledon, hypocotyl, cells, nodes,protoplasts, meristematic cell, root, root tip, pistil, anther, flower,shoot tip, shoot, stem, petiole, etc. When a whole plant is regeneratedby vegetative propagation, it is also referred to as a vegetativepropagation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Stevia cultivar ‘817096’ is a Stevia rebaudiana stevia variety, whichhas shown uniformity and stability, as described in the followingVariety Description Information. It has been reproduced a sufficientnumber of generations with careful attention to uniformity of planttype. The cultivar has been increased with continued observation touniformity.

Stevia cultivar ‘817096’ is a selection that resulted from a backcrossconducted in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, the People's Republic of Chinain September 2013. The proprietary F₁ male stevia line ‘YF002’(unpatented) (derived from a cross between female parent ‘AKH/G.8.D’(unpatented) and male parent ‘AKH L1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,164)) wasbackcrossed to female parent ‘AKH/G.8.D’.

Stevia cultivar ‘817096’ has the following morphologic and othercharacteristics from data taken in the Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province,People's Republic of China.

TABLE 1 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION Propagation: Propagation type:Vegetative cuttings, tissue culture, and seed Type: Perennial Time toproduce a rooted young plant: 20 to 30 days from a cutting Rootdescription: There are primary roots (including taproot and lateralroot) and secondary roots (including fleshy root and rootlet) Rootinghabit: Fibrous root system, about 20.0 cm to 30.0 cm depth, 30.0 cm to40.0 cm wide (in field conditions) Plant and growth habit: Divided into3 stages, vegetation growth stage, vegetation growth and reproductivegrowth together stage, reproductive growth stage Plant height: 51.0 cmto 70.0 cm Plant diameter: About 60.0 cm Stems: Length: 50.0 cm to 60.0cm Internode length: 2.0 cm to 4.0 cm Diameter: 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm Color:RHS 134D Texture: Lignified at the base Strength: Not very strongAnthocyanin: Absent Number of nodes on main stem: 12 to 20 Number basalnodes per plant: 180 to 320 Lateral branches Length: 15.0 cm to 25.0 cmDiameter: 0.12 cm to 0.25 cm Internode length: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm Aspect:Upwards; at about a 45 degree angle Strength: Not strong Texture:Lignified at the base Color: RHS 134D Foliage: Arrangement: Opposite oralternate Length: 4.0 cm to 7.0 cm Width: 2.1 cm to 2.5 cm Shape:Oval-lanceolate Apex: Abruptly tapered Base: Attenuate Margin: Slightlydentate Venation pattern: Netted venation Venation color: RHS 134DTexture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glabrous Color, immature: Uppersurface: RHS 140A Lower surface: RHS 134D Color, mature: Upper surface:RHS 140A Lower surface: RHS 134D Buds: Length: 0.8 cm Width: 0.1 cmShape: Ellipsoid Color: RHS 140C (Green) Inflorescence: Appearance andarrangement: Flowers capitulum, consisting of five oblong bracts, fivedisk florets Time to flower: About 100 days after transplant Time offlowering: In Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, the People's Republic of China,from August to September Disk florets: Length: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm Width:0.2 to 0.5 cm Shape: Tubular Apex: Acute Margin: Smooth Base: Becomestubular at the middle to the base Color: Upper surface: White Lowersurface: White Venation color: Upper surface: White Lower surface: WhiteBracts: Length: 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm Width: 0.2 cm Shape: Lanceolate Apex:Abruptly tapered Margin: Smooth Base: Attenuate Color (both upper andlower surfaces): RHS 134C Venation color (both upper and lowersurfaces): RHS 134C Fragrance: Absent Reproductive organs: Stamen:Quantity: 5 Filament length: 0.15 cm Filament color: RHS 140C Anthershape: Column-like Anther length: 0.15 cm Anther color: RHS 154A Pollenamount: Sparse Pollen color: RHS 154A Pistil: Style length: 0.2 cm Stylecolor: RHS 140C Stigma shape: 2-branched Stigma color: RHS 112D Ovarycolor: RHS 140C Fruit and seed set: Seed are achenes, about 0.3 cm to0.4 cm long, and 0.05 cm to 0.08 cm long, with light brown pappus on thetop. Disease and insect/pest resistance: Good.

Rebaudioside Content

To collect the data of Table 2 below, stevia leaf samples wereair-dried/oven-dried before grinding into fine powder using a pestle andmortar. For each sample, leaf powder (100 mg) was extracted with 15 mlof 60° C. distilled water for 18 hours. The mixture was centrifuged andthe supernatant filtered and collected for SG component analysis by HPLC(Agilent, USA). The analysis of steviol glycosides was carried out usingan Agilent Technologies 1200 Series (USA) HPLC equipped with Poroshell120 SB-C18 2.7 μm, 4.6×150 mm. A diode array set at 210 nm was used asthe detector. ND—Not detected.

TABLE 2 Rebaudioside content of ‘817096’ Characteristic ‘817096’ Reb Econtent 1.60% Reb O content 0.54% Reb N content 0.63% Reb D content3.28% Reb M content 0.38% Reb A content 2.35% Stev content 2.06% Reb Fcontent 0.10% Reb C content 0.50% Dul A content 0.05% Reb B content NDSbio content ND

Comparison with Commercial Variety

‘817096’ is most similar to the commercial stevia plant named ‘PC Star’(unpatented). Differences between the two varieties are described inTable 3:

TABLE 3 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘817096’ ‘PCStar’ Diameter of leaf 2.1 cm to 2.5 cm 1.6 cm to 2.0 cm Color of leafDark green Medium green Height 51 cm to 70 cm 71 cm to 90 cm Cycle 101to 110 days more than 111 days Rebaudioside A content 2.35% 11.69%Rebaudioside D content 3.28%  0.40% Rebaudioside M content 0.38%  0.21%

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for Identification of SteviaCultivar ‘817096’

Sequencing results indicated eight SNPs are powerful markers for theidentification of variety ‘817096’ identification. All eight SNPs (SEQID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ IDNO:6, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8) are present in variety ‘817096’.

Genetic sequencing revealed the evidence of alleles crossing over fromhigh Stev and high RebA into the generation of stable high RebD and highRebM lines. For instance, for SNP2 (SEQ ID NO:1) as shown in FIG. 1, anyStevia plants with high Stev and high RebA can be either homozygousdominant GG alleles or heterozygous GC alleles. Allele G is dominant toallele C and allele C is recessive to allele G. Any Stevia plants withthis homozygous dominant GG allele combination are stable for high Stevand RebA variety. Since allele G is dominant to allele C, anyindividuals with GC genotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety asdominant allele G mask the effect of recessive allele C. Allele crossingover takes place among those high Stev and high RebA varieties orprogeny after several generations of crossing over, thus resulting intothe generation of progeny with recessive CC allele. Any progeny withthis CC genotype will be identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP10 (SEQ ID NO:2) as shown in FIG. 2, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant GG alleles orheterozygous AG alleles. Allele G is dominant to allele A and allele Ais recessive to allele G. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant GG allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele G is dominant to allele A, any individuals with AGgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Gmask the effect of recessive allele A. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive AA allele. Any progeny with this AA genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP12 (SEQ ID NO:3) as shown in FIG. 3, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant CC alleles orheterozygous CT alleles. Allele C is dominant to allele T and allele Tis recessive to allele C. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant CC allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele C is dominant to allele T, any individuals with CTgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Cmask the effect of recessive allele T. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive TT allele. Any progeny with this TT genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP17 (SEQ ID NO:4) as shown in FIG. 4, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant AA alleles orheterozygous AC alleles. Allele A is dominant to allele C and allele Cis recessive to allele A. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant AA allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele A is dominant to allele C, any individuals with ACgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Amask the effect of recessive allele C. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive CC allele. Any progeny with this CC genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP19 (SEQ ID NO:5) as shown in FIG. 5, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant AA alleles orheterozygous AT alleles. Allele A is dominant to allele T and allele Tis recessive to allele A. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant AA allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele A is dominant to allele T, any individuals with ATgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Amask the effect of recessive allele T. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive TT allele. Any progeny with this TT genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP20 (SEQ ID NO:6) as shown in FIG. 6, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant GG alleles orheterozygous GA alleles. Allele G is dominant to allele A and allele Ais recessive to allele G. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant GG allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele G is dominant to allele A, any individuals with GAgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Gmask the effect of recessive allele A. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive AA allele. Any progeny with this AA genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP22 (SEQ ID NO:7) as shown in FIG. 7, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant TT alleles orheterozygous TG alleles. Allele T is dominant to allele G and allele Gis recessive to allele T. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant TT allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele T is dominant to allele G, any individuals with TGgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Tmask the effect of recessive allele G. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive GG allele. Any progeny with this GG genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

For SNP24 (SEQ ID NO:8) as shown in FIG. 8, any Stevia plants with highStev and high RebA can be either homozygous dominant GG alleles orheterozygous GA alleles. Allele G is dominant to allele A and allele Ais recessive to allele G. Any Stevia plants with this homozygousdominant GG allele combination are stable for high Stev and RebAvariety. Since allele G is dominant to allele A, any individuals with GAgenotype can be of high Stev or high RebA variety as dominant allele Gmask the effect of recessive allele A. Allele crossing over takes placeamong those high Stev and high RebA varieties or progeny after severalgenerations of crossing over, thus resulting into the generation ofprogeny with recessive AA allele. Any progeny with this AA genotype willbe identified as high RebD and RebM lines.

Another embodiment is a stevia plant or plant part derived from steviavariety ‘817096’ produced by crossing a plant or plant part of steviavariety ‘817096’ with another plant, wherein representative fresh tissueculture of said stevia variety ‘817096’ has been deposited and whereinsaid stevia plant part derived from the stevia variety ‘817096’ has 92%,93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the same polymorphisms for SNPsof SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8 as the plant or plant part ofstevia variety ‘817096’. A stevia seed derived from stevia variety‘817096’ produced by crossing a plant or plant part of stevia variety‘817096’ with another plant, wherein representative plant part of saidstevia variety ‘817096’ has been deposited and wherein said stevia seedderived from the stevia variety ‘817096’ has essentially the samemorphological characteristics as stevia variety ‘817096’ when grown inthe same environmental conditions. The same environmental conditions maybe, but are not limited to a side-by-side comparison. Thecharacteristics can be those listed in Table 1. The comparison can bemade using any number of professionally accepted experimental designsand statistical analysis.

An embodiment is also directed to methods for producing a stevia plantby crossing a first parent stevia plant with a second parent steviaplant, wherein the first or second stevia plant is the stevia plant fromthe cultivar ‘817096’. Further, both the first and second parent steviaplants may be the cultivar ‘817096’ (e.g., self-pollination). Therefore,any methods using the cultivar ‘817096’ are part of this invention:selfing, backcrosses, hybrid breeding, and crosses to populations. Anyplants produced using cultivar ‘817096’ as parents are within the scopeof this invention. As used herein, the term “plant” includes plantcells, plant protoplasts, plant cells of tissue culture from whichstevia plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plantcells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as pollen,flowers, embryos, ovules, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, anthers, pistils,shoots, microshoots, and the like. Thus, another aspect is to providefor cells which upon growth and differentiation produce a cultivarhaving essentially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of ‘817096’.

Another embodiment contemplates a stevia plant regenerated from a tissueculture of a cultivar (e.g., ‘817096’) or hybrid plant of the presentinvention. As is well-known in the art, tissue culture of stevia can beused for the in-vitro regeneration of a stevia plant. Tissue culture ofvarious tissues of stevia and regeneration of plants therefrom is wellknown and widely published.

There are numerous steps in the development of any desirable plantgermplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition ofproblems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment ofprogram goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. Thenext step is selection of germplasm that possess the traits to meet theprogram goals. The goal is to combine in a single cultivar an improvedcombination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. In stevia,the important traits leaf yield, earlier maturity, improved leafquality, rebaudioside content, stevioside content, resistance todiseases and insects, resistance to drought and heat, and improvedagronomic traits.

Breeding Methods

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plantreproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and thetype of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, purelinecultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superiorindividual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective,whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based onmean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of relatedplants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection,modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.

The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method.Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes fora highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach hasbeen used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Variousrecurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitativelyinherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrentselection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination,the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and thenumber of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.

Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation ofthe efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria varydepending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain fromselection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard,overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successfulcultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollarexpended, etc.).

Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared topopular cultivars in environments representative of the commercialtarget area(s) for three or more years. The lines having superiorityover the popular cultivars are candidates to become new commercialcultivars. Those lines still deficient in a few traits are discarded orutilized as parents to produce new populations for further selection.

These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing anddistribution, usually take from seven to twelve years from the time thefirst cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is atime-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficientuse of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that aregenetically superior because for most traits the true genotypic value ismasked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. Onemethod of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performancerelative to other experimental lines and widely grown standardcultivars. For many traits a single observation is inconclusive, andreplicated observations over time and space are required to provide agood estimate of a line's genetic worth.

The goal of a commercial stevia breeding program is to develop new,unique, and superior stevia cultivars. The breeder initially selects andcrosses two or more parental lines, followed by generation advancementand selection, thus producing many new genetic combinations. The breedercan theoretically generate billions of different genetic combinationsvia this procedure. The breeder has no direct control over which geneticcombinations will arise in the limited population size which is grown.Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line having the sametraits.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to thenext generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and differentgeographical, climatic, and soil conditions, and further selections arethen made, during and at the end of the growing season. The lines whichare developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is because thebreeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control atthe DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and withmillions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. Abreeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resultinglines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion.The same breeder cannot produce, with any reasonable likelihood, thesame cultivar twice by using the exact same original parents and thesame selection techniques. This unpredictability results in theexpenditure of large amounts of research moneys to develop superior newstevia cultivars.

Pureline cultivars of stevia are commonly bred by hybridization of twoor more parents followed by selection. The complexity of inheritance,the breeding objectives, and the available resources influence thebreeding method. Pedigree breeding, recurrent selection breeding, andbackcross breeding are breeding methods commonly used in self-pollinatedcrops such as stevia. These methods refer to the manner in whichbreeding pools or populations are made in order to combine desirabletraits from two or more cultivars or various broad-based sources. Theprocedures commonly used for selection of desirable individuals orpopulations of individuals are called mass selection, plant-to-rowselection, and single seed descent or modified single seed descent. Oneor a combination of these selection methods can be used in thedevelopment of a cultivar from a breeding population.

Pedigree breeding is primarily used to combine favorable genes into atotally new cultivar that is different in many traits than either parentused in the original cross. It is commonly used for the improvement ofself-pollinating crops. Two parents which possess favorable,complementary traits are crossed to produce an F₁ (filial generation 1).An F₂ population is produced by selfing F₂ plants. Selection ofdesirable individual plants may begin as early as the F₂ generationwherein maximum gene segregation occurs. Individual plant selection canoccur for one or more generations. Successively, seed from each selectedplant can be planted in individual, identified rows or hills, known asprogeny rows or progeny hills, to evaluate the line and to increase theseed quantity, or to further select individual plants. Once a progenyrow or progeny hill is selected as having desirable traits, it becomeswhat is known as a breeding line that is specifically identifiable fromother breeding lines that were derived from the same originalpopulation. At an advanced generation (i.e., F₅ or higher) seed ofindividual lines are evaluated in replicated testing. At an advancedstage the best lines or a mixture of phenotypically similar lines fromthe same original cross are tested for potential release as newcultivars.

The single seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to plantinga segregating population, harvesting one seed from every plant, andcombining these seeds into a bulk, which is planted as the nextgeneration. When the population has been advanced to the desired levelof inbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each traceto different F₂ individuals. Primary advantages of the seed descentprocedures are to delay selection until a high level of homozygosity(e.g., lack of gene segregation) is achieved in individual plants, andto move through these early generations quickly, usually through usingwinter nurseries.

The modified single seed descent procedures involve harvesting multipleseed (i.e., a single lock or a simple boll) from each plant in apopulation and combining them to form a bulk. Part of the bulk is usedto plant the next generation and part is put in reserve. This procedurehas been used to save labor at harvest and to maintain adequate seedquantities of the population.

Selection for desirable traits can occur at any segregating generation(F₂ and above). Selection pressure is exerted on a population by growingthe population in an environment where the desired trait is maximallyexpressed and the individuals or lines possessing the trait can beidentified. For instance, selection can occur for disease resistancewhen the plants or lines are grown in natural or artificially-induceddisease environments, and the breeder selects only those individualshaving little or no disease and are thus assumed to be resistant.

In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plant can alsobe examined. There are many laboratory-based techniques available forthe analysis, comparison, and characterization of plant genotype. Amongthese are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats(SSRs—which are also referred to as Microsatellites), and SingleNucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).

Breeding with Molecular Techniques

Isozyme Electrophoresis and RFLPs have been widely used to determinegenetic composition. Shoemaker and Olsen, (Molecular Linkage Map ofSoybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) pp. 6.131-6.138 in S. J. O'Brien (Ed.)Genetic Maps: Locus Maps of Complex Genomes, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., (1993)) developed amolecular genetic linkage map that consisted of 25 linkage groups withabout 365 RFLP, 11 RAPD, three classical markers, and four isozyme loci.See also, Shoemaker, R. C., RFLP Map of Soybean, pp. 299-309, inPhillips, R. L. and Vasil, I. K. (Eds.), DNA-Based Markers in Plants,Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, the Netherlands (1994).

SSR technology is currently the most efficient and practical markertechnology; more marker loci can be routinely used and more alleles permarker locus can be found using SSRs in comparison to RFLPs. Forexample, Diwan and Cregan described a highly polymorphic microsatellitelocus in soybean with as many as 26 alleles. Diwan, N. and Cregan, P.B., Theor. Appl. Genet., 95:22-225 (1997). SNPs may also be used toidentify the unique genetic composition of the invention and progenyvarieties retaining that unique genetic composition. Various molecularmarker techniques may be used in combination to enhance overallresolution.

Molecular markers, which includes markers identified through the use oftechniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, RFLPs, RAPDs, AP-PCR, DAF,SCARs, AFLPs, SSRs, and SNPs, may be used in plant breeding. One use ofmolecular markers is Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping. QTL mappingis the use of markers which are known to be closely linked to allelesthat have measurable effects on a quantitative trait. Selection in thebreeding process is based upon the accumulation of markers linked to thepositive effecting alleles and/or the elimination of the markers linkedto the negative effecting alleles from the plant's genome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for theselection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked toalleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles ofinterest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles ofinterest during a backcrossing breeding program. For example, molecularmarkers are used in soybean breeding for selection of the trait ofresistance to soybean cyst nematode, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,967. Themarkers can also be used to select toward the genome of the recurrentparent and against the markers of the donor parent. Using this procedurecan attempt to minimize the amount of genome from the donor parent thatremains in the selected plants. It can also be used to reduce the numberof crosses back to the recurrent parent needed in a backcrossingprogram. The use of molecular markers in the selection process is oftencalled Genetic Marker Enhanced Selection. Molecular markers may also beused to identify and exclude certain sources of germplasm as parentalvarieties or ancestors of a plant by providing a means of trackinggenetic profiles through crosses as discussed more fully hereinafter.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits intostevia varieties. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificiallyinduced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. Thegoal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for adesired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by manydifferent means including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissueculture conditions, radiation (such as X-rays, Gamma rays, neutrons,Beta radiation, or ultraviolet radiation), chemical mutagens (such asbase analogues like 5-bromo-uracil), antibiotics, alkylating agents(such as sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines,sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, or lactones), azide, hydroxylamine,nitrous acid, or acridines. Once a desired trait is observed throughmutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated into existing germplasmby traditional breeding techniques.

Details of mutation breeding can be found in Principles of CultivarDevelopment by Fehr, Macmillan Publishing Company (1993).

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the developmentof homozygous varieties in a breeding program. Double haploids areproduced by the doubling of a set of chromosomes from a heterozygousplant to produce a completely homozygous individual. For example, seeWan, et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 77:889-892 (1989).

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used fordifferent traits and crops can be found in one of several referencebooks (e.g., Allard (1960); Simmonds (1979); Sneep, et al. (1979); Fehr(1987)).

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level ofsuperiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition toshowing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivarthat is compatible with industry standards or which creates a newmarket. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional coststo the seed producer, and to the grower, processor, and consumer, forspecial advertising, marketing and commercial production practices, andnew product utilization. The testing preceding the release of a newcultivar should take into consideration research and development costsas well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. Forseed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easilyand economically.

The stevia flower is monoecious in that the male and female structuresare in the same flower. The crossed or hybrid seed is produced by manualcrosses between selected parents. Floral buds of the parent that is tobe the female are emasculated prior to the opening of the flower bymanual removal of the male anthers. At flowering, the pollen fromflowers of the parent plants designated as male, are manually placed onthe stigma of the previous emasculated flower. Seed developed from thecross is known as first generation (F₁) hybrid seed. Planting of thisseed produces F₁ hybrid plants of which half their genetic component isfrom the female parent and half from the male parent. Segregation ofgenes begins at meiosis thus producing second generation (F₂) seed.Assuming multiple genetic differences between the original parents, eachF₂ seed has a unique combination of genes.

Further Embodiments

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed theisolation and characterization of genes that encode specific proteinproducts, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a stronginterest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and expressforeign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native, orendogenous, genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order toalter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreignadditional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as“transgenes.” Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods forproducing transgenic plants have been developed, in particularembodiments, also relates to transformed versions of the claimedcultivar.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vectorwhich will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNAcomprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatoryelement (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain oneor more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. Thevector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or incombination with other plasmids, to provide transformed stevia plants,using transformation methods as described below to incorporatetransgenes into the genetic material of the stevia plant(s).

Expression Vectors for Stevia Transformation: Marker Genes

Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker operably linkedto a regulatory element (for example, a promoter) that allowstransformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered bynegative selection (i e, inhibiting growth of cells that do not containthe selectable marker gene), or by positive selection (i.e., screeningfor the product encoded by the genetic marker). Many commonly usedselectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in thetransformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code forenzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which maybe an antibiotic or an herbicide, or genes that encode an altered targetwhich is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection methodsare also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is theneomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII), which, when under the control ofplant regulatory signals, confers resistance to kanamycin. Fraley, etal., PNAS, 80:4803 (1983). Another commonly used selectable marker geneis the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance tothe antibiotic hygromycin. Vanden Elzen, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 5:299(1985).

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that conferresistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase,streptomycin phosphotransferase, and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyltransferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Hayford, et al.,Plant Physiol., 86:1216 (1988); Jones, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210:86(1987); Svab, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 14:197 (1990); Hille, et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 7:171 (1986). Other selectable marker genes conferresistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate, or bromoxynil.Comai, et al., Nature, 317:741-744 (1985); Gordon-Kamm, et al., PlantCell, 2:603-618 (1990); and Stalker, et al., Science, 242:419-423(1988).

Other selectable marker genes for plant transformation that are not ofbacterial origin include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase,plant 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plantacetolactate synthase. Eichholtz, et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet.,13:67 (1987); Shah, et al., Science, 233:478 (1986); Charest, et al.,Plant Cell Rep., 8:643 (1990).

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requiresscreening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than directgenetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxicsubstance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful toquantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene inspecific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genesbecause they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for theinvestigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screeningpresumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS),β-galactosidase, luciferase, and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase.Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep., 5:387 (1987); Teeri, et al.,EMBO J., 8:343 (1989); Koncz, et al., PNAS, 84:131 (1987); DeBlock, etal., EMBO J. 3:1681 (1984).

In-vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not requiredestruction of plant tissue are available. Molecular Probes Publication2908, IMAGENE GREEN, pp. 1-4 (1993) and Naleway, et al., J. Cell Biol.,115:151a (1991). However, these in-vivo methods for visualizing GUSactivity have not proven useful for recovery of transformed cellsbecause of low sensitivity, high fluorescent backgrounds, andlimitations associated with the use of luciferase genes as selectablemarkers.

More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has beenutilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryoticcells. Chalfie, et al., Science, 263:802 (1994). GFP and mutants of GFPmay be used as screenable markers

Expression Vectors for Stevia Transformation: Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotidesequence comprising a regulatory element (for example, a promoter).Several types of promoters are now well known in the transformationarts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or incombination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNAupstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition andbinding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription inplant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control includepromoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues,such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, orsclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred.”Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue arereferred to as “tissue-specific.” A “cell type” specific promoterprimarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs,for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoteris a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples ofenvironmental conditions that may affect transcription by induciblepromoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light.Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and induciblepromoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A“constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under mostenvironmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters:

An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression instevia. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to anucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linkedto a gene for expression in stevia. With an inducible promoter the rateof transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. See Ward,et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 22:361-366 (1993). Exemplary induciblepromoters include, but are not limited to, that from the ACEI systemwhich responds to copper (Mett, et al., PNAS, 90:4567-4571 (1993)); In2gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners(Hershey, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 227:229-237 (1991) and Gatz, et al.,Mol. Gen. Genet., 243:32-38 (1994)); or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatz,et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 227:229-237 (1991)). An example induciblepromoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to whichplants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is theinducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptionalactivity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone (Schena,et al., PNAS, 88:0421 (1991)).

B. Constitutive Promoters:

A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression instevia or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotidesequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a genefor expression in stevia.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instantinvention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limitedto, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV(Odell, et al., Nature, 313:810-812 (1985)) and the promoters from suchgenes as rice actin (McElroy, et al., Plant Cell, 2:163-171 (1990));ubiquitin (Christensen, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 12:619-632 (1989) andChristensen, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 18:675-689 (1992)); pEMU (Last,et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 81:581-588 (1991)); MAS (Velten, et al.,EMBO J., 3:2723-2730 (1984)); and maize H3 histone (Lepetit, et al.,Mol. Gen. Genet., 231:276-285 (1992) and Atanassova, et al., PlantJournal, 2 (3): 291-300 (1992)).

The ALS promoter, Xbal/Ncol fragment 5′ to the Brassica napus ALS3structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to said Xbal/Ncolfragment), represents a particularly useful constitutive promoter. SeePCT Application No. WO 96/30530.

C. Tissue-Specific or Tissue-Preferred Promoters:

A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expressionin stevia. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is operably linkedto a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operablylinked to a gene for expression in stevia. Plants transformed with agene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter producethe protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, ina specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in theinstant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferredpromoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter,such as that from the phaseolin gene (Murai, et al., Science, 23:476-482(1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan, et al., PNAS, 82:3320-3324 (1985)); aleaf-specific and light-induced promoter, such as that from cab orrubisco (Simpson, et al., EMBO J., 4(11):2723-2729 (1985) and Timko, etal., Nature, 318:579-582 (1985)); an anther-specific promoter, such asthat from LAT52 (Twell, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 217:240-245 (1989)); apollen-specific promoter, such as that from Zm13 (Guerrero, et al., Mol.Gen. Genet., 244:161-168 (1993)); or a microspore-preferred promoter,such as that from apg (Twell, et al., Sex. Plant Reprod., 6:217-224(1993)).

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellularcompartment, such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome,cell wall, or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, isaccomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequenceencoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encodingthe protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end ofthe structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis andprocessing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either anintracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion tothe apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art. See, forexample, Becker, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 20:49 (1992); Close, P. S.,Master's Thesis, Iowa State University (1993); Knox, C., et al., PlantMol. Biol., 9:3-17 (1987); Lerner, et al., Plant Physiol., 91:124-129(1989); Fontes, et al., Plant Cell, 3:483-496 (1991); Matsuoka, et al.,PNAS, 88:834 (1991); Gould, et al., J. Cell. Biol., 108:1657 (1989);Creissen, et al., Plant J., 2:129 (1991); Kalderon, et al., Cell,39:499-509 (1984); Steifel, et al., Plant Cell, 2:785-793 (1990).

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

With transgenic plants, a foreign protein can be produced in commercialquantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation oftransformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield aplurality of transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventionalmanner, and a foreign protein then can be extracted from a tissue ofinterest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomasscan be accomplished by known methods which are discussed, for example,by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem., 114:92-6 (1981).

According to an embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercialproduction of foreign protein is a stevia plant. In another embodiment,the biomass of interest is seed. For the relatively small number oftransgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic mapcan be generated, primarily via conventional RFLP, PCR, and SSRanalysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of theintegrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard, seeGlick and Thompson, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology andBiotechnology, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 269:284 (1993). Map informationconcerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection ofa subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertakenand crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration regioncan be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if thelatter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisonswould involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all ofwhich are conventional techniques.

Likewise, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformed plants. Moreparticularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express variousphenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in thisregard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

A. Genes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

1. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated byspecific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene(R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr)gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with clonedresistance gene to engineer plants that are resistant to specificpathogen strains. See, for example, Jones, et al., Science, 266:789(1994) (cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for resistance to Cladosporiumfulvum); Martin, et al., Science, 262:1432 (1993) (tomato Pto gene forresistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes a protein kinase);Mindrinos, et al., Cell, 78:1089 (1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene forresistance to Pseudomonas syringae).

2. A gene conferring resistance to a pest, such as nematodes. See, e.g.,PCT Application No. WO 96/30517; PCT Application No. WO 93/19181.

3. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a syntheticpolypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser, et al., Gene,48:109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence of a Btδ-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding .δ-endotoxin genescan be purchased from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va.,for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995, and 31998.

4. A lectin. See, for example, the disclosure by Van Damme, et al.,Plant Molec. Biol., 24:25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotide sequencesof several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes.

5. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT Application No.U.S. Ser. No. 93/06487. The application teaches the use of avidin andavidin homologues as larvicides against insect pests.

6. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitoror an amylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe, et al., J. Biol. Chem.,262:16793 (1987) (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinaseinhibitor); Huub, et al., Plant Molec. Biol., 21:985 (1993) (nucleotidesequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I); Sumitani, etal., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 57:1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequence ofStreptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase inhibitor); and U.S. Pat. No.5,494,813 (Hepher and Atkinson, issued Feb. 27, 1996).

7. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone, such as an ecdysteroid andjuvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or anantagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the disclosure byHammock, et al., Nature, 344:458 (1990), of baculovirus expression ofcloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.

8. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression,disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. For example, see thedisclosures of Regan, J. Biol. Chem., 269:9 (1994) (expression cloningyields DNA coding for insect diuretic hormone receptor) and Pratt, etal., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 163:1243 (1989) (an allostatin isidentified in Diploptera puntata). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317 toTomalski, et al., who disclose genes encoding insect-specific, paralyticneurotoxins.

9. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc.For example, see Pang, et al., Gene, 116:165 (1992), for disclosure ofheterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpioninsectotoxic peptide.

10. An enzyme responsible for a hyper-accumulation of a monoterpene, asesquiterpene, a steroid, a hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoidderivative, or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

11. An enzyme involved in the modification, including thepost-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule. Forexample, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme,a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, aphosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, achitinase, and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See PCTApplication No. WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott, et al., whichdiscloses the nucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA molecules whichcontain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, fromthe ATCC under Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. See also, Kramer, et al.,Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol., 23:691 (1993), who teach the nucleotidesequence of a cDNA encoding tobacco hornworm chitinase, and Kawalleck,et al., Plant Molec. Biol., 21:673 (1993), who provide the nucleotidesequence of the parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.

12. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, see thedisclosure by Botella, et al., Plant Molec. Biol., 24:757 (1994), ofnucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones and Griess, etal., Plant Physiol., 104:1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotidesequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

13. A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT Application No. WO 95/16776(disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin which inhibit fungalplant pathogens) and PCT Application No. WO 95/18855 (teaches syntheticantimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance).

14. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker. Forexample, see the disclosure of Jaynes, et al., Plant Sci., 89:43 (1993),of heterologous expression of a cecropin-β-lytic peptide analog torender transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.

15. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. Forexample, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plantcells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease developmenteffected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, aswell as by related viruses. See, Beachy, et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol.,28:451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upontransformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus,tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etchvirus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus. Id.

16. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom.Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in theinsect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect. See,Taylor, et al., Abstract #497, Seventh Intl Symposium on MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions (Edinburgh, Scotland) (1994) (enzymaticinactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chainantibody fragments).

17. A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki, et al.,Nature, 366:469 (1993), who show that transgenic plants expressingrecombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

18. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogenor a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases facilitatefungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plantcell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. See, Lamb, et al., Bio/technology,10:1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization of a gene which encodesa bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is described by Toubart,et al., Plant J., 2:367 (1992).

19. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. Forexample, Logemann, et al., Bio/technology, 10:305 (1992), have shownthat transgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating genehave an increased resistance to fungal disease.

B. Genes that Confer Resistance to an Herbicide:

1. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as animidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category codefor mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee, etal., EMBO J., 7:1241 (1988), and Miki, et al., Theor. Appl. Genet.,80:449 (1990), respectively. Other herbicides such as dicamba increaseplant growth.

2. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant5-enolpyruvlshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and aroA genes,respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate(phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyceshygroscopicus PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acidsand cyclohexones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example,U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 to Shah, et al., which discloses the nucleotidesequence of a form of EPSP which can confer glyphosate resistance. A DNAmolecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCCAccession No. 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061 to Comai. European PatentApplication No. 0 333 033 to Kumada, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374to Goodman, et al., disclose nucleotide sequences of glutaminesynthetase genes which confer resistance to herbicides such asL-phosphinothricin or cyclohexanedione. The nucleotide sequence of a PATgene is provided in European Application No. 0 242 246 to Leemans, etal. DeGreef, et al., Bio/technology, 7:61 (1989), describe theproduction of transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes codingfor PAT activity. Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxyproprionic acids and cyclohexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop arethe Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2, and Acc1-S3 genes described by Marshall, et al.,Theor. Appl. Genet., 83:435 (1992).

3. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbAand gs+ genes) bromoxynil or a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibila,et al., Plant Cell, 3:169 (1991), describe the transformation ofChlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotidesequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648to Stalker, and DNA molecules containing these genes are available underATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression ofDNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes, etal., Biochem. J., 285:173 (1992).

C. Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

1. Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by transforming a plantwith an antisense gene of stearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearicacid content of the plant. See Knultzon, et al., PNAS, 89:2624 (1992).

2. Decreased phytate content: (a) Introduction of a phytase-encodinggene would enhance breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate tothe transformed plant. See, for example, Van Hartingsveldt, et al.,Gene, 127:87 (1993), for a disclosure of the nucleotide sequence of anAspergillus niger phytase gene; and (b) A gene could be introduced thatreduced phytate content. For example, in maize, this could beaccomplished by cloning and then reintroducing DNA associated with thesingle allele, which is responsible for maize mutants characterized bylow levels of phytic acid. See, Raboy, et al., Maydica, 35:383 (1990).

3. Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, bytransforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters thebranching pattern of starch. See, Shiroza, et al., J. Bacteol., 170:810(1988) (nucleotide sequence of Streptococcus mutantsfructosyltransferase gene); Steinmetz, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 20:220(1985) (nucleotide sequence of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene);Pen, et al., Bio/technology, 10:292 (1992) (production of transgenicplants that express Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase); Elliot, et al.,Plant Molec. Biol., 21:515 (1993) (nucleotide sequences of tomatoinvertase genes); Sorgaard, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:22480 (1993)(site-directed mutagenesis of barley α-amylase gene); and Fisher, etal., Plant Physiol., 102:1045 (1993) (maize endosperm starch branchingenzyme II).

4. Modified fiber characteristics, such as fiber quality representanother example of a trait that may be modified in stevia varieties. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,588 describes transgenic plants transformedwith a sucrose phosphate synthase nucleic acid to alter fibercharacteristics such as strength, length, fiber fineness, fiber maturityratio, immature fiber content, fiber uniformity, and micronaire. Steviaplants comprising one or more genes coding for an enzyme selected fromthe group consisting of endoxyloglucan transferase, catalase andperoxidase for the improvement of fiber characteristics are alsodescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,022. Stevia fiber modification usingovary-tissue transcriptional factors preferentially directing geneexpression in ovary tissue, particularly in very early fruitdevelopment, utilized to express genes encoding isopentenyl transferasein stevia ovule tissue and modify the characteristics of boll set inplants and alter fiber quality characteristics including fiber dimensionand strength is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,570. A gene controllingthe fiber formation mechanism in plants is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,169,174. Genes involved in lignin biosynthesis are described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,451,514.

Methods for Stevia Transformation

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, includingbiological and physical, plant transformation protocols. See, forexample, Mild, et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA intoPlants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glickand Thompson (Eds.), CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 67-88 (1993). Inaddition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cellor tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See,for example, Gruber, et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation” inMethods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson(Eds.), CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 89-119 (1993).

A. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation:

One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based onthe natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for example,Horsch, et al., Science, 227:1229 (1985). A. tumefaciens and A.rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which geneticallytransform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A.rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetictransformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev.Plant Sci., 10:1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systemsand methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided byGruber, et al., supra, Miki, et al., supra, and Moloney, et al., PlantCell Rep., 8:238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055 (Townsend andThomas), issued Oct. 8, 1996.

B. Direct Gene Transfer:

Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to asdirect gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative toAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. A generally applicable method ofplant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation whereinDNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 μm to 4μm. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with abiolistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300m/s to 600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls andmembranes. Sanford, et al., Part. Sci. Technol., 5:27 (1987); Sanford,J. C., Trends Biotech., 6:299 (1988); Klein, et al., Bio/technology,6:559-563 (1988); Sanford, J. C., Physiol Plant, 7:206 (1990); Klein, etal., Bio/technology, 10:268 (1992). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,580(Christou, et al.), issued May 14, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,783 (Tomes,et al.), issued Jun. 21, 1994.

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication oftarget cells. Zhang, et al., Bio/technology, 9:996 (1991).Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion have been used tointroduce expression vectors into plants. Deshayes, et al., EMBO J.,4:2731 (1985); Christou, et al., PNAS, 84:3962 (1987). Direct uptake ofDNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol, orpoly-L-ornithine has also been reported. Hain, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.,199:161 (1985) and Draper, et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982).Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues has also beendescribed. Donn, et al., In Abstracts of VIIth International Congress onPlant Cell and Tissue Culture IAPTC, A2-38, p. 53 (1990); D'Halluin, etal., Plant Cell, 4:1495-1505 (1992); and Spencer, et al., Plant Mol.Biol., 24:51-61 (1994).

Following transformation of stevia target tissues, expression of theabove-described selectable marker genes allows for preferentialselection of transformed cells, tissues, and/or plants, usingregeneration and selection methods now well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used forproducing a transgenic variety. The transgenic variety could then becrossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed) variety, in orderto produce a new transgenic variety. Alternatively, a genetic traitwhich has been engineered into a particular stevia cultivar using theforegoing transformation techniques could be moved into another cultivarusing traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in theplant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be usedto move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite variety into anelite variety, or from a variety containing a foreign gene in its genomeinto a variety or varieties which do not contain that gene. As usedherein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process ofbackcrossing, depending on the context.

C. Single-Gene Conversion

When the term “stevia plant” is used herein, this also includes anysingle gene conversions of that variety. The term “single gene convertedplant” as used herein refers to those stevia plants which are developedby a plant breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentiallyall of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of avariety are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred intothe variety via the backcrossing technique. Backcrossing methods can beused herein to improve or introduce a characteristic into the variety.The term “backcrossing” as used herein refers to the repeated crossingof a hybrid progeny back to the recurrent parent, i.e., backcrossing 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more times to the recurrent parent. Theparental stevia plant which contributes the gene for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the “nonrecurrent” or “donor parent”. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental stevia plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol (Poehlman & Sleper(1994); Fehr (1987)). In a typical backcross protocol, the originalvariety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety(nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to betransferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossedagain to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a steviaplant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recoveredin the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene fromthe nonrecurrent parent, as determined at the 5% significance level whengrown in the same environmental conditions.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological,constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross. One ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomicallyimportant trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol willdepend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine anappropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods aresimplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominantallele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance itmay be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new variety but that can beimproved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may notbe transgenic. Examples of these traits include but are not limited to,male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide resistance, resistance forbacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, male fertility,enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability, andyield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through thenucleus. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,959,185; 5,973,234; and 5,977,445, the disclosures of which arespecifically hereby incorporated by reference.

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture andregeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of stevia andregeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. Forexample, reference may be had to Komatsuda, T., et al., Crop Sci.,31:333-337 (1991); Stephens, P. A., et al., Theor. Appl. Genet.,82:633-635 (1991); Komatsuda, T., et al., Plant Cell, Tissue and OrganCulture, 28:103-113 (1992); Dhir, S., et al. Plant Cell Rep., 11:285-289(1992); Pandey, P., et al., Japan J. Breed., 42:1-5 (1992); and Shetty,K., et al., Plant Science, 81:245-251 (1992); as well as U.S. Pat. No.5,024,944 issued Jun. 18, 1991 to Collins, et al., and U.S. Pat. No.5,008,200 issued Apr. 16, 1991 to Ranch, et al. Thus, another aspect ofthis invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiationproduce stevia plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of stevia cultivar ‘817096’.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a compositioncomprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or acollection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplarytypes of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plantcells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants orparts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, seeds, leaves, stems,roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, and the like. Means for preparingand maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By wayof example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produceregenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185; 5,973,234; and 5,977,445,described certain techniques.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a stevia plantby crossing a first parent stevia plant with a second parent steviaplant wherein the first or second parent stevia plant is a stevia plantof the cultivar ‘817096’. Further, both first and second parent steviaplants can come from the stevia cultivar ‘817096’. Thus, any suchmethods using the stevia cultivar ‘817096’ are part of this invention:selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and thelike. All plants produced using stevia cultivar ‘817096’ as a parent arewithin the scope of this invention, including those developed fromvarieties derived from stevia cultivar ‘817096’. Advantageously, thestevia cultivar could be used in crosses with other, different, steviaplants to produce first generation (F₁) stevia hybrid seeds and plantswith superior characteristics. The cultivar of the invention can also beused for transformation where exogenous genes are introduced andexpressed by the cultivar of the invention. Genetic variants createdeither through traditional breeding methods using cultivar ‘817096’ orthrough transformation of ‘817096’ by any of a number of protocols knownto those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of thisinvention.

The following describes breeding methods that may be used with cultivar‘817096’ in the development of further stevia plants. One suchembodiment is a method for developing a ‘817096’ progeny stevia plant ina stevia plant breeding program comprising: obtaining the stevia plant,or a part thereof, of cultivar ‘817096’, utilizing said plant or plantpart as a source of breeding material, and selecting a ‘817096’ progenyplant with molecular markers in common with ‘817096’ and/or withmorphological and/or physiological characteristics selected from thecharacteristics listed in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. Breedingsteps that may be used in the stevia plant breeding program includepedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding, and recurrentselection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such asmarker-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (forexample, SSR markers), and the making of double haploids may beutilized.

Another method involves producing a population of cultivar ‘817096’progeny stevia plants, comprising crossing cultivar ‘817096’ withanother stevia plant, thereby producing a population of stevia plants,which, on average, derive 50% of their alleles from cultivar ‘817096’. Aplant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbedwith a stevia cultivar resulting from these successive filialgenerations. One embodiment of this invention is the stevia cultivarproduced by this method and that has obtained at least 50% of itsalleles from cultivar ‘817096’.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how toevaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is nosignificant difference between the two traits expressed by thosevarieties. For example, see Fehr and Walt, Principles of CultivarDevelopment, pp. 261-286 (1987). Thus the invention includes steviacultivar ‘817096’ progeny stevia plants comprising a combination of atleast two ‘817096’ traits selected from the group consisting of thoselisted in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 or the ‘817096’combination of traits listed in the Summary, so that said progeny steviaplant is not significantly different for said traits than steviacultivar ‘817096’ as determined at the 5% significance level when grownin the same environment. Using techniques described herein, molecularmarkers may be used to identify said progeny plant as a ‘817096’ progenyplant. Mean trait values may be used to determine whether traitdifferences are significant, and the traits are measured on plants grownunder the same environmental conditions. Once such a variety isdeveloped its value is substantial since it is important to advance thegermplasm base as a whole in order to maintain or improve traits such asyield, disease resistance, pest resistance, and plant performance inextreme environmental conditions.

Progeny of cultivar ‘817096’ may also be characterized through theirfilial relationship with stevia cultivar ‘817096’, as for example, beingwithin a certain number of breeding crosses of stevia cultivar ‘817096’.A breeding cross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into theprogeny, and is distinguished from a cross, such as a self or a sibcross, made to select among existing genetic alleles. The lower thenumber of breeding crosses in the pedigree, the closer the relationshipbetween stevia cultivar ‘817096’ and its progeny. For example, progenyproduced by the methods described herein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5breeding crosses of stevia cultivar ‘817096’.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which stevia plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers,leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, and the like.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of live plant tissue of the stevia variety named ‘817096’disclosed above and recited in the appended claims has been made withthe China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC),Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Datun Road,Chaoyang District 100101 China. The date of deposit was Sep. 22, 2014.The CGMCC accession number is CGMCC No. 9703. All restrictions upon thedeposit have been removed, and the deposit is intended to meet all ofthe requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§.1.801-1.809.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussedabove, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications,permutations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof. It is thereforeintended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter areinterpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions,and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of stevia cultivar ‘817096’, wherein arepresentative sample of live plant tissue of said cultivar wasdeposited under CGMCC No.
 9703. 2. A plant, or a part thereof, producedby growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. The plant part of claim 2, whereinsaid plant part is a seed, leaf, pollen, stem, root, an ovule, or acell.
 4. A stevia plant, or part thereof, having all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the stevia plant ofclaim
 2. 5. A food or feed product comprising the plant or part thereofof claim
 2. 6. A tissue or cell culture of regenerable cells of theplant of claim
 2. 7. The tissue or cell culture of claim 6, comprisingtissues or cells from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofleaves, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyl, meristematic cells,roots, root tips, pistils, anthers, flowers, and stems.
 8. A steviaplant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of claim 7, whereinsaid plant has all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of stevia cultivar ‘817096’ listed in Table
 1. 9. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the plant of claim 2, comprising thesteps of: a. collecting tissue or cells capable of being propagated froma plant according to claim 2; b. cultivating said tissue or cells of (a)to obtain proliferated shoots; and c. rooting said proliferated shootsto obtain rooted plantlets; or d. cultivating said tissue or cells toobtain proliferated shoots, or to obtain plantlets.
 10. A stevia plantproduced by growing the plantlets or proliferated shoots of claim
 9. 11.A method for producing an F₁ stevia seed, wherein the method comprisescrossing the plant of claim 2 with a different stevia plant andharvesting the resultant F₁ stevia seed.
 12. A stevia seed produced bythe method of claim
 11. 13. A stevia plant, or a part thereof, producedby growing said seed of claim
 12. 14. A method of determining thegenotype of the stevia plant of claim 2, wherein said method comprisesobtaining a sample of nucleic acids from said plant and detecting insaid nucleic acids a plurality of polymorphisms.
 15. A method ofproducing an herbicide resistant stevia plant, wherein the methodcomprises transforming the stevia plant of claim 2 with a transgenewherein the transgene confers resistance to an herbicide chosen fromglyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phenoxyproprionic acid, cyclohexanedione, L-phosphinothricin, triazine,benzonitrile, and bromoxynil.
 16. An herbicide resistant stevia plantproduced by the method of claim
 15. 17. A method of producing an insectresistant stevia plant, wherein the method comprises transforming thestevia plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers insect resistance.18. An insect resistant stevia plant produced by the method of claim 17.19. The stevia plant of claim 18, wherein the transgene encodes aBacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 20. A method of producing a diseaseresistant stevia plant, wherein the method comprises transforming thestevia plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers diseaseresistance.
 21. A disease resistant stevia plant produced by the methodof claim
 20. 22. A method of introducing a desired trait into steviacultivar ‘817096’, wherein the method comprises: a. crossing a ‘817096’plant, wherein a representative sample of live plant tissue of saidplant was deposited under CGMCC No. 9703, with a plant of another steviacultivar that comprises a desired trait to produce progeny plantswherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism, modified stevioside content, modifiedRebaudioside content, modified stevia fiber characteristics, andresistance to bacterial disease, fungal disease or viral disease; b.selecting one or more progeny plants that have the desired trait toproduce selected progeny plants; c. crossing the selected progeny plantswith the ‘817096’ plants to produce backcross progeny plants; d.selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait andthe physiological and morphological characteristics of stevia cultivar‘817096’ listed in Table 1 to produce selected backcross progeny plants;and e. repeating steps (c) and (d) two or more times in succession toproduce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprisethe desired trait and the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of stevia cultivar ‘817096’ listed in Table
 1. 23. Astevia plant produced by the method of claim 22, wherein the plant hasthe desired trait and the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of stevia cultivar ‘817096’ listed in Table
 1. 24. Amethod for developing a stevia plant in a stevia plant breeding program,comprising applying plant breeding techniques comprising recurrentselection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, marker enhanced selection,haploid/double haploid production, or transformation to the stevia plantof claim 2, or its parts, wherein application of said techniques resultsin development of a stevia plant.
 25. A second stevia seed, plant, plantpart, or cell produced by crossing a plant or plant part of steviacultivar ‘817096’, or a locus conversion thereof, with another plant,wherein representative live plant tissue of said stevia cultivar‘817096’ has been deposited under CGMCC No. 9703 and wherein said steviacultivar ‘817096’ seed, plant, plant part, or cell has the samepolymorphisms for the single nucleotide polymorphisms of SEQ ID NO:1,SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ IDNO:7 and SEQ ID NO:8 as the plant or plant part of stevia cultivar‘817096’.